Electric switch



- 1,627,304 1927 c. E. ANDERSON ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Sent. l]., 1923 mgmu i I INVENTOR CHRL ERIC fi/vaERsoM BY MM ATTORNEYS Patented May 3,1927.

UNITED STATES CARL ERIC ANDERSON, OF STRATFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TOTHE DRY ANT ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPORT,

NECTICUT.

CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION 01' CON- ELECTIRIC .SW'ITCH.

Application filed September My invention relates to electric switches,and particularly to switches of the hill and valley type. The object ofto provide a simplified and improved con struction of the operatingmechanism.

In the accompanying drawings- Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a"switch in which my invention is embodied in one form; v

Fig. 2 is a section on the'line 2-2, Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a,dropped perspective of certain elements of the switchmechanism.

Ashore shown I have-applied my invention to a switch embodied in anelectric lamp socket, but it will be readily understood that themechanism is suitable for switches of various types,and that its utilityis not limited to this particular fitting.

The structure shown comprises upper and lower insulating buttons 5 and 6spaced apart to accommodate the switch mechanism. 0n the button 6 is theusual screw shell 7 electrically connected to the spacing bar 8 whichcarries one of the binding screws (not shown). The: center contact 9,also mounted on the button 6 is connected by the rivet 10 to a switchcontact 11 on the opposite face of the button. Underlying the spacingbar 12 which carries the binding screw 13 is the base of a cooperatingswitch contact. 14, arranged diametrically opposite the contact 11.Adapted to span the contacts 11 and 14 is the rotary switch bar 15,freely mounted on the switch spindle 16 and subject to the throw of thetorsion spring 17, one end 18 of which engages the switch bar, while theopposite end 19 engages the driving plate 20 fast on the spindle 16.

The switch bar travels a hill and' valley course, the hills of whichform detents over which the switchbar rises during the stressing of theswitch spring 17, followed by a rapid movement into the succeedingvalleys uponits escape from the crests of opposite hills. Two oppositehills 21 and 22 are -formed by arcuate bosses on the face of the button6, the detent face of each boss lyin' practically at right angles to thecourse 0 the switch bar.- The intervening hills are formed by flanges 23and 24 abruptly offset from the margins of the switch contacts 11 and 14and forming detents, which like the having two arcuate notches 27' and28 11, 1923. Serial N0. 662,096.

hills 21 and 22, hold the switch bar 15 against rotation during theinitial stressing detent faces of the several hills is so sharp that thepermissible stressing of the spring 17 is not in itself suflicient toswltch bar to ride up the detents untilit escapes their crests. Toeffect this necessary rise of the switch bar, I provide means forpositivel lifting it to the crests'of the detaining ills.

The particular means employed for this purpose according to the presentinvention, constitute integral laterally extending arcuate wingsdownwardly inclined toward the base 6 and extending below the plane ofthe bar 15. Cooperating therewith is a lifting cam 26 fast on" thespindle 16 and adapted to receive the wings of the switch bar. Onthe'rotation of the spindle 16, the radial margins 29 and Y30 of thenotchesin the cam plate engage the lower faces of the wings 25 and liftthe switch bar to the crest of the detaining hills, while the switchspring 17 is simultaneously stressed.

The operation of this mechanism efiects a result. substantially likethat of the construction shown in the Renholdt Patent N 0. 1,400,376.

The cooperating switch bar and cam ele-- ments of the present structureare. however, much simpler to manufacture, and are more certain inoperation. Thus, the cam 26 comprises merely a flat stamping,necessitating no forming action for the cam surfaces Similarly thecooperating wings 25 of the switch bar are merely downwardly inclinedthrough a relatively small angle instead of being offset substantiallyat right angles to the plane of the switch bar, asiin the Renholdtconstruction, with resultantweakening and danger of breakage. Lessexactitude of construction is necessary, moreover, since the engagementbetween the cam and the switch bar wings, is not an edge engagement, asin the Renholdt construction, but a face engagement between the lowersurface of the wings 25 and the side margins, 29 and 30, of the notches27 and 28 in which the wings play.

- he operation of the mechanism is obvious. The switch bar 15 normallyrests upon cause thethe cam 26 in such position that the wings I liftthe bar. to the crests of the detaining.

. of-the detaining hills,

hills. This action" of the cam compresses the spring 17, which is at thesame time, placed under additional torsional stress by the rotation ofthe spindle. Consequently, as soon as the switch bar reaches the crestsit is not only rotated through'the torsional action of the sprin 17, butis forced downward into thesucce'e ing valleys of its course by theexpansion of the spring, and thus halted by the detent faces of'thesucceeding hills. As the switch bar rotates and is depressed into thevalleys,

27 and 28 of the cam, thus position illustrated 'in Fig. 1.

The. cam 26 may be secured to the spindle 16 in any'desired fashion.- Ihave indicated a non-circular central aperature 31 which engages thenon-circular lower end 32 of the spindle for rotation therewith.

The drive of the spindle 16 may complished in any suitable fashion; Iindicated a i'atchet drive by the ratchet disc 33 associated with thecarrier 34 for one end of a pull chain 35, such'as is common in pullswitch construction. 'The teeth of the ratchet 33 engage the arms 36- ofthe drive plate 20 fast on the spindle 16, and thus rotate the latter.Surrounding the spindle is a ratchet return spring 37, one end of whichengages the ratchet disc. 33, while its opposite end is engaged in anadjustable abutment 38 seated in a squared recess in the button 5 as iswell understod in the,art. The abutment 38 forms a bearing for one endof the spindle, while its opposite end extends into a bushing 39 freelyresting in a well 4.0 in the button 6. The shoulder 41 on the spindleoverlies the cam 26 and the resuming the be acspindle,

the cam wings 25 run down into the notchesmargins of said notches I have1 latter, resting on the bushing 39 formsathe step'bearing for thespindl The particular shapes of the cam 26, wings 25 of the switch bar,and of other parts, fmay he modified in various. ways Without departingfrom what I claim as my invention.

I claim-.. A v

l 1. An electric switch comprising a rotary a sheet metal washerrotating therewith and haying circumferentially spaced notches initsperiphery, in combination with a sheet metal switch bar mountedfreely, on the spindle fordisplacement in axial direction and forrotation o switch bar having a surface normally resting against the faceof; the washer, portions of said surface being warped toward the washerand into the peripheral notches in v the latter and bearing against the"following together with a switch bar toward the spring stressing the toimpart a forward washer and serving throw to the switch bar afterpredeterminedrotation of the spindle to cause longitudinal displacementof the switch bar thereon incident to the engagement of said warpedsurfaces in the notches of the washer.

2. In an electric switch, a switch bar having lateral wings warped outof the plane of thebearing surface of the bar, and a marginally notchedflat washer switch bar bears and into the notches of which the switchbar wings enter to present the warped surface of the bar to the marginof the notch at the following end of the latter on the rotation of thewasher with respect tothe bar, spring means urging the adjacentfac'es ofthe bar and washer toward each other, detents engaging the bar, andmeans for rotatin the washer to effect the. displacement of tie bar outof detaining en agement with the detents. n testimony whereof I havesigned my name to this specification.

CARL ERIC ANDERSON.

said spindle, said against which the

